Prevent Tooth Decay

A look at some of the top tips to prevent tooth decay.

Tooth decay isn’t fun. It can be painful and embarrassing. It seems strange that today with all of our dental technology; people are still suffering from this problem. Tooth decay is preventable in everyone. Even those

who are highly susceptible to tooth decay can take preventative measures, and greatly reduce the likelihood of having tooth problems. In this article we will look at the top tips to prevent tooth decay that everyone can do.

One of the most effective measures that one can take is to brush teeth at least twice a day. This gives the teeth a good cleaning and reduces the amount of bacteria. It also keeps the unsightly plaque away preventing it from turning into tartar or calculus.

The next thing that everyone should do is floss their teeth at least once per day. The tooth brush cannot reach between teeth as dental floss can. By doing this, food particles that can get wedged between the teeth can be easily removed. These food particles can attract harmful bacteria if they are left and heighten the chances of tooth decay occurring.

To give the mouth an extra good clean, rinsing with an antimicrobial mouth rinse is recommended. These kill bacteria in the mouth and are extra effective in cleaning at the gum line. This is an important tip to prevent tooth decay as well as gum disease.

Eating certain foods can also help prevent tooth decay. Sailors from centuries ago used to eat lemons when they were on long voyages. This wasn’t because they were particularly fond of the taste but because lemons helped keep certain diseases away. The Vitamin C in the lemons helped prevent bleeding gums

which many sailors contacted. This is still an effective measure today. Any fruit that is rich in Vitamin C is extremely good for your teeth. The acids in these foods kill the harmful bacteria in your mouth. They also clean the teeth naturally keeping the plaque levels down.

For years we have been told that chewing gum is extremely bad for our health. Well this isn’t entirely true. The truth is that by chewing gum, our mouths keep a continual flow of saliva. The minerals in our saliva help to replace essential minerals on the teeth. Our teeth loose minerals every day. It is only a problem if the minerals are lost faster than they are replaces. Chewing gum can help assure that this doesn’t happen. Your dentist can recommend some good dental gums, however any sugarless gums should be fine.

Another tip to prevent tooth decay is to be aware of the amount of sugar in foods and drinks. Don’t be fooled by fruit juices or foods that claim they are low fat. Many fruit juices have loads of added sugar and do more harm than good. Stick with freshly squeezed juices or concentrates. Low fat foods are another serious offender. Many times to keep the flavor the add sugar. The fat content is still low but the level of sugar is way up their. Make sure you read the labels so you know exactly what is going in your mouth.

Today, it seems there is this push to go natural. Why not? Natural substances tend to absorbed and used more efficiently by the body and in most cases there are few side effects. Fortunately, those that love to do things the natural way can add fighting tooth decay to their lists. There are several substances that are highly recommended and carry a multitude of positive properties for health.

By adding a few drops of tea tree oil to your tooth brush and giving the mouth a good swish, you’ll be killing off those harmful bacteria that tear down the tooth enamel. Tea tree oil is a natural anti bacterial and has anti biotic properties.

Another herbal wonder is Echinacea. This again kills bacteria and can heal wounds. It has also been very effective in fighting colds, flues, headaches and toothaches. Booth tea tree oil and Echinacea are available in most health food stores and pharmacies.

Finally, rinsing your mouth with either mint or using cinnamon is an excellent tip forfighting tooth decay. Both of these items freshen the breath as well as fight bacteria. They are also known to heal wounds in the mouth and help reduce the pain of toothaches.

It seems strange that in this day and age we are still fighting a problem like tooth decay. The technology that we have today combined with the preventative measures available should mean that this is a problem of the past. However, this problem still exists and will likely continue to do so. Nothing is fool proof, but there is a lot that is in our hands. By taking the above mentioned advice, you can greatly reduce your chances of tooth decay in the future.

Tips to Prevent Tooth Decay